Curragh tips for Irish Champions Weekend: O’Brien to show the Churchill spirit

Top Irish flat trainer Aidan O’Brien will have been bitterly disappointed to see St Leger favourite Idaho unseat his rider in the Doncaster Classic, but his stable looks set to respond by dominating the big races at The Curragh this Sunday.

It’s the second part of the Irish Champions Weekend at this Coral sponsored track. We’ve looked at the 2016 Irish St Leger in detail separately, but there’s a couple of other Group 1 contests…

Classy Churchill can best Mehmas in National Stakes

Churchill bets should be a banker among Curragh tips for September 11 in the National Stakes on Irish Champions Weekend.

Besides Order Of St George in the Irish Leger, stablemate Churchill looks poised to continue his progress by winning the 7f Vincent O’Brien National Stakes just beforehand (16:15).

It will just be the two-year-old bay colt’s fifth start, but he has improved at a rate of knots by winning three of his four outings, taking steps up into Group 3 and Group 2 company in his stride.

Race rival Mehmas has twice as many successes in the latter grade for Richard Hannon, but makes an Irish debut here with all six previous career runs in Britain.

Churchill has course and distance form to his credit last time out, however, and also won the Tyros Stakes at Leopardstown, so it’s that horse you should side with here.

Rhododendron can bloom in Moyglare Stud Stakes

Rhododendron odds also appeal this Sunday in the Moyglare Stud Stakes.

Aidan O’Brien entries dominate the 7f Moyglare Stud Stakes (15:40), and of his quartet Rhododendron could be the best of the bunch.

Stablemate Promise To Be True is the overnight favourite, but connections are fast-tracking her into Group 1 company here after just two starts.

That is a persuasive point based on fact rather than potential. Hydrangea and Brave Anna are other O’Brien hopes here.

O’Brien to assert he’s Best In The World

Best In The World looks the best bet in the Blandford Stakes.

The Blandford Stakes over 1m 2f (14:35) is one of a pair of Group 2 contests on The Curragh card, and Best In The World should again hold off the challenge of Shamreen to give O’Brien a clean sweep of the main races.

A Group 3 winner at Cork last time out, Best In The World also has a course victory to her credit.

Shamreen is owned by the Aga Khan, but Dermot Weld’s filly was only a five-length fourth behind the selection last time out.